Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-05-03
SHE
N.HiStorI OF: Hd0ehture
By j. RIDER HAeGARD.



rious adventures ever experienced by mortal
men, feel it incumbent ON me to explain what
my exact connection with it is And so may
MS well say at once that am not the narrator,
but only the editor, of this extraordinary
history, and then proceed 10 tell how 1t found
its way into my hands
Some years ago /, the edi.or, was stopping
with brother at one Of the universities,
which, for the purposes of this history we VIII
call Cambridge, and was one day much
struck with the appearance OF two people
whom l saw going arm In arm down the
street. One of these gentlemen was, think,
without exception, the handsomest young fei-
low have ever set eyes ON. He was very
tall, very broad and had look Of power ana
n grace of bearing that seemed as native to
him as it is TO wild stag. In addition his
face was almost without faw-a good face rs
well as a beautiful one and when he lifted his
hat, which he did just then to a passing lady,
saw that his head was covered with little
golden curls growing close to the scalp.
uGood graciousr said to my brother,
with whom was walking; "why thnt fellow
looks like statue Of Apollo come to ire
What splendid man he is!'
ayes. he answered, he is the handsomest
man in the university and one Of the incest,
too They call him the Greek god But look
at the other one He's Vincey's that's the
GODS name) guardian and supposed to be full
of every kind Of information. They call him
'CharonP
| looked and found the older man quite as
Interesting in his way as the gloriiied speci-
men of humanity at his side Henppeared to
be about forty years of age, and was, think,
ms ugly as his companion was handsome To
begin with. he was shortish, rather bow
legged, very deep chested and with unusually
long arms, He had dark hair aud small
eyes, and the hair grew right down on his
forehead and his whislsers grew right up to
his hair, so that there was uncommonly littlo
of his countenance to be W. Altogether he
reminded me forcibly Of gorilla, and YET
there was something very pleasing and genial
nbout tho mans eye. ] remember saying
that should like to know him
aAIl right answered my brother; moth
ing easier. / know Vincey; I'll Introduce
YOUR and he did and for some minutes we
stood chatting-about the Zulu people,
think, for had just returned from the Cape
ut the time. Presently, however, stoutish
lady, whose name do not remember, came
along the pavement accompanied by apretty,
fair haired girl, and these two MIR. Nincey,
who clearly knew them well, at once joined
and walked off in their company. | re-
member being rather amused because OF the
change in the expression Of the elder man,
whose name discovered was Holly, when he
saw the ladies advancing He suddenly
stopped short in his talk, cast reproachful
look at his companion, and, with an abrupt
nod TO myself, turned and marched OFF alono
ncross the street. heard afterward that ha
was popularity supposed to be as much afraid
of a woman as most people are of mad dog,
which accounted for his precipitatc retreat
/ cannot say, however, that young Nineey
showed much aversion to feminine society on
this occasion. Indeed, remember laughing.
and remarzing to my brother at the tima
that lie was not the sort of man whom ono
would care to introduce to the lady one was
going to parry, since it Is exceedingly prob
nhle that the acquaintance would end in
transfer OF her affections. He was altogether
too good looking, and, what is more, he had
none of that consciousness and conceit about
him which usually aiiiicts handsome men,
and makes them deservedly disliked by their
fellows.
That evening my visit came to an end, and
and the Greek god for many q long day. In
deed, have never seen either Of them from
that hour to this and do not suppose it likely
that / shall But month ago received
letter and two packets, one of manuscript,
and on opening the first found that 1t was
signed by "Horace Holly name that at the
moment was not familiar TO me. 1t ran as
follows;
My DEAR Sm-YcN will be surprised, consider
ing the very slight nature Of our acquaintance, to
ret letter from me. Indeed, think had bet
ter begin by reminding you that we once met,
now some five years ago, when your brother IN
troduced me and my ward, Leo Nincey, 10 you IN
the street at Cambridge. To be brief and come
TO nv business, have recently read with much
interest u book OF yours describing central
African adventure. / take It that this book Is
partly true and partly an effort Of the imagina-
lion. However this Is, 1t has given me an idea
IL happens-how, you will see In the accompany
ing manuscript, which, tgether with the scarab,
the Royal Son Of the Sum and the original sherd,
am sending to you by hand-that my ward, or
rather my adopted son, Leo Vincey and myself
lave recently passed through real African ad-
venture of a nature so much more marvellous
thnn the one which you describe that, to tell you
the truth, am almost ashamed TO submit Il to
YOU for fear lest YOU should disbeeve me, You
will see Il stated In this manuscript that !, or
rather we, had made up our minds not to make
this history public during our joint lives. Nor
should we alter our determination, were 1t not for
a circumstance that has recently arisen. We are,
for reasons that, after perusing this manuscript,
YOU may be able 10 guess, going away again, this
time to central Asia, where, II anywhere upon
this earth, wisdom is TO be found, and anticipate
that our soiourn there will be long one. POSI-
bly, we shall not return. Under these altered con
dltions Il has become question whether we arc
justified In Withholding from the world an nc-
count Of phenomenon which we believe 10 be
OF unparalleled Interest, merely because our rrf
vnte life Is involved, or because we are afraid Of
rdicule and doubt being cast upon our state
ments. hold ono view about this mntter and
Leo holds another, and finally, after much dis
CUSTOM we have come to q compromise namely,
10 send the history 20 you, giving You full leave
10 publish IL II you thlhl, It, the only stipulation
being that you shall disguise our real names, and
as much concerning our Identity as is consistent
with the maintenance of the bona fldes of the
narrative.
And now what am 10 say fiirtheri really do
not know, beyond once more repeating that every
thing described in the accompanying manuscript
& exactly IA IL happened. As regards She her.
self have nothing 10 add. Day by day we have
greater occasion to regret that we did not better
avail ourselves Of our opportunities to obtain
more Information from that marvellous woman
Who was shef How did she first come to the
Caves Of Kor, and what was her true religioni We
never ascertained and now, alas we never shall,
at least not yet. These and many other questions
arise in my mind; but what is the good Of asking
them nowg
VIII you undertake the taskY We give You
complete freedom, and as a reward you viii Ger.
talniy have the credit OF giving to the world thu
most wonderful history, as distinguished from
romance, that its records can show. Read tho
manuscript (which have copied out fairly for
your benefit, and let me know. i
Believe mo, very truly yours,
l. HonAcE HOLLY.
r.. s-Of course II any profit results from tho
Enle OF the writing should you care 20 undertake.
IT, you can do what you like with It, hut II there Is
o loss will leave instructions with my lawyers,
Mcssrs Godfrey & Jordan, to meet Il. We In